Public transport in the area of Barcelona adjusts schedules in response to the drop in demand

If you cannot avoid travelling, remember that, in accordance with the health authorities, public transport has reduced its services and temporarily cancelled or limited lines and services in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

31/03/2020 16:33 h

Ecologia Urbana

As a result of Royal Decree 10/2020 of 29 March, in which employment activity is greatly reduced and limited to essential activities, the demand for public transport in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area has gone down. Therefore, the service on offer has been reduced once more.

In this regard, the various public-transport operators are adjusting their schedules in order to optimise the exposure of their personnel and minimise the resources allocated to providing the service.

However, although the number of passengers on most forms of transport has dropped by up to 90% (only 1 out of 10 people are travelling), a service of between 33 and 67% is being conserved, with varying adjustments according to the time of day (e.g. the rush hours) and periodic measures or reductions. The main aim is to respect the declared limit of one-third maximum occupation in order to maintain social distancing between the passengers.

Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (TMB) metro and buses

Overall, the metro has reduced its service to between 57 and 60%, varying according to whether it is a rush hour period or not and also depending on available personnel. The general public are asked to spread out all along the platform (the middle carriages tend to be the emptiest) and maintain social distancing. The metro doors open automatically in the types of train where this is possible. The Monday to Friday service of 5 am to 12 midnight is maintained.

For buses, the service varies between 40 and 45%. It is still obligatory to enter by the rear door and buying tickets on board is not permitted. 

New timetables on certain Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) lines

From 30 March, the Llobregat-Anoia line is offering a Monday to Sunday service that is equivalent to its normal Sunday service (33% of normal weekday service) with additional trains at rush hours, in order to ensure an occupancy of one third of capacity. From Wednesday 1 April, the Barcelona-Vallès line will be running on Sunday-service times, with additional trains at the busiest times of day.

Lastly, the L7 service (Av. Tibidabo-Gràcia) is being reduced to its weekend-service times.

Rodalies de Catalunya

The local commuter trains run by Rodalies de Catalunya are providing 66% of their normal weekday service.

However, the R2 line is being reinforced on weekdays, with a greater number of trains during the rush hours.

TRAM

The metropolitan tram service (Trambaix and Trambesòs) is maintaining 60% of its normal weekday service.

The metropolitan bus service run by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and other city and inter-city buses are providing between 33 and 60% of normal services. Adjustments are being scheduled to accommodate the low demand and, in some specific cases, services are being cancelled on lines with no demand, such as some transport lines serving the T2 at the airport.

Meanwhile the frequency of the Nitbus is between 40 and 60 minutes. The lines N10 N18 and N26 have been suspended.

*SOURCE: ATM

Tags associated with the news item

Related news